Learn About Hermit Crab Food!

Knowing about hermit crab food is necessary for thefind these in the reptile's section, look for them in the
happiness of these crabs. In their natural habitats,bird's section of the pet store. You can also get coral
hermit crabs are omnivorous animals, so their dietdust on the pet store, which can be sprinkled over
plan consists of elements from both the plant worldthe sand bed of the hermit crab enclosure. The best
and the animal world. The key aspect of hermit crabhousehold method of supplying calcium rich food is to
food is to provide a rich source of calcium to thesupply crushed egg shells as crab food. The calcium
crabs as calcium is an important element of theirsupply is even more important if a crab is molting or
body structure. Water is another key aspect ofis preparing for molting. The discarded exoskeleton
these crab's diet plan. If you are using commercialfrom a these crabs is a rich source of calcium in the
food preparations found in pet stores thencrab cage.
remember to maintain a balanced diet of food andHermit crabs also like delicacies and special treats like
water for the crabs. Apart from calcium and water,fresh fruits, vegetables, leaves, grass, unsalted nuts,
another vital constituent of a crab's food israisins, popcorns, dried shrimps and planktons. Rotate
carotenoids, as this natural pigment is important tothe supply of delicacies in an alternating way to
the crab for the sake of its body color.maintain a balance in the crab diet. Treating these
Although, the commercial food options in pet storescrabs with special delicacies is a great way of earning
for these crabs are not as readily available as thethe crab's trust, and very soon the crab might very
foods for other exotic animals, yet there are somewell be ready to directly eat from your hand.
very good options too. Brand names like Zoo-medHermit crabs drink freshwater and they bathe in
and organizations like the Florida Marine Researchsaltwater. Thus, it is important that both freshwater
(FMR) provide some very great food options forand salt water are present inside the cage. Before
these crabs. If the food is not available at the petusing the freshwater as crab food, ensure that it is
stores, then they can be ordered to be shipped todechlorinated completely. The bath-water of the
your address. Common calcium Vitamin supplementscrabs should also be dechlorinated water.
found in pet stores are also used as food for theThese crabs leave uneaten food particles inside the
crabs. However, the important point to remember incage. It is important to clean the cage often to keep
such cases is that, the food is available as pellets andthe cage clean and free from rotting food. It is best
it is necessary that the pellets are crushed and givenif the cage is cleaned once daily. While deciding the
to these crabs as food.hermit crab food, it is necessary to check that the
The pet store is also an important place to buy thefood provided to the crabs is free from pesticides,
natural calcium supply of the hermit crabs. Look forcontaminations, ingredients like copper sulfate and
crushed oyster shells, cuttlebones and coral depositsalso harmful food preservatives.
as these are rich sources of calcium. If you cannot